Belgium Finds First Case Of Omicor Variant In Europe

Illustration - A new variant of the corona virus (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Belgium found the first confirmed case of a new variant of the corona virus in Europe on Friday, along with the announcement of a number of preventive measures for the fourth wave of COVID-19.

Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said at a press conference that a case of variant B11529 had been found in a person who was not injected with the vaccine who developed symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19 on November 22.

"A suspicious variant. We don't know yet whether (the variant) is very dangerous or not," he said.

A new variant of the coronavirus called Omicor, which first appeared in South Africa, is sounding the global alarm. The European Union and the UK are among the countries that have tightened borders as scientists are trying to find out if the mutation of the variant is vaccine-resistant.

Belgium's national reference laboratory revealed that the infected person was a young adult woman who developed symptoms for 11 days after returning from Egypt via Turkey. He is experiencing flu-like symptoms, but so far there are no signs of serious illness.

None of his family members have shown symptoms, but they all underwent tests.

The new variant of COVID-19 appears as Belgium and many other European countries are battling a surge in infections.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced that nightclubs, bars and restaurants would have to close at 11 p.m. local time for three weeks starting Saturday, with one table for a maximum of six people.

Of the increasing pressure on healthcare, De Croo added, "if our vaccination rates weren't high today, we would be stuck in a really vicious situation."

Belgium, which is home to NATO and several European Union institutions, reported the sixth-highest number of cases per capita in Europe after countries such as Austria and Slovakia which continued lockdowns.